Memory.......ial Day Weekend

What a wonderful weekend with all the kids at home to love and play! We had many events to celebrate -- Noah's birthday, Evan's birthday, Rajko's blessing and honoring those who have "gone before us." We're so thankful for family, the gospel and for the Priesthood in our lives. So many beautiful memories!




Eli was so excited to have the cousins all come for the weekend!








If Evan likes you -- you will be lucky enough to get a big, juicy kiss. Evan LOVES Ellie!








Jack and Mia are loaded with rythmn!








Grandpa and "the Boys!" Notice Jack is quite the helper! Note also Chelsea and Allen at their usual teasing in the background!








Jack loves Grandpa and Bella. He put on Luke's boots and headed out in his jammies to make sure Bella had love and nutrition.







Evan's birthday cupcake! YUMMM!!!








So many presents for one smart, handsome, happy little boy!










Dapper Rajko attending cousin Evan's birthday party!










Ellie loves all the babies and it's Rajko's turn to be the recipient of her love.









"Calm" Rajko - in dreamland!










The "kid" table for Memorial Day breakfast












The "grown-up" table.










The entire family at the cemetery with Indian Crossings in the background.










Dad and the kids.



Earl and I have been the Service Club advisors at the high school. We have worked on a project called "Koins for Kenya," trying to raise enough funds to build a sister school in a small village in Kenya. We were able to reach our goal and raise enough money to build a two-room school that will house around 165 students! DeLoy is the School Board President and actually introduced us to "Koins." Barry Walker is the Superintendent; Lacy Turnbow has been the president of the Service Club; Brett Van Leeuwen is the head of the "Koins" organization; and Earl and myself. This has been a very rewarding experience to see high school students care enough about someone else in the world they have never seen and want to help them have the same oopportunities in life they have every day. Ten thousand five hundred dollars is HUGE!!!! They say ".....it takes a village...." and we are so very proud to join hands with other around the world to become part of the "village" to help raise a child.

Investments......

Once upon a time, at least 3 decades plus a few years ago, Earl and I were young, poor, struggling college students. Now mind you, all of this is just perspective......meaning young = in our twenties and not much experience in life; poor = not alot of dollars per month to live on; struggling = trying to live within our means; and students = at a teachable state in our lives.
Robert was around 8 years old and we had just had our little baby girl, Billie Jo. Christmas was nearing and we were trying to make purchases that were worth the investment, or in other words, were of such quality to last a few years and had a purpose for their existence. For our little beauty, we chose a butterfly flutter ball. The purposes of this ball were to help develop hand-eye coordination, motivate her to crawl and provide entertainment. This purchase was most likely under $10.
Five children, nine grandchildren, various cousins, friends, acquaintances and thirty plus years later, the beautiful butterfly flutterball has cracked! Being the conservative people we are, we could get some super glue and try to fix it up--but my kids would roll their eyes and laugh at us. I really hate to throw this little ball away -- there are so many memories attached! Memories of our trailer in Logan and our little family; memories of our house at Ft. Carson and two little girls chasing the butterfly ball; memories of the "little house" and two little girls and one little boy chasing the butterfly ball; memories of "Aunt Jo's house" and 2 big sisters, one protective little brother, and one little precocious girl chasing the butterfly ball; and then two big protective sisters, one teasing brother, and a little/big sister and one happy-go-lucky little baby girl chasing the butterfly ball!
A few years retirement in the red toybox and then the butterfly ball found its way back out to family life and ready for another little girl to begin her pursuit of the butterfly ball. Again and again other small hands have been in pursuit of the butterfly housed within the ball.
Is it the end of an era and the legend of the butterfly ball, or should I buy a tube of super glue and save the ball? I need your input! Now -- be careful with my feelings and the emotion attached to this ball! Remember all the little hands that have touched the butterfly ball -- little hands of learning and development.
Whatever the outcome of the ball -- this was one of the best investments Earl and I ever made! It would be difficult to beat a $10 investment that has lasted over thirty years and provided so much for so many!

Dancing Queen

There's a first for everything...first tooth, first step, first kiss, first love, first child, etc., etc., but yesterday was a bittersweet first for me. My first Mother's Day without celebrating with my beautiful Mother. Mom passed away last year the week prior to Mother's Day, so technically I guess this is my second -- but it was so close--there was no time to contemplate. I did pretty well until I got in the car to go to Relief Society and the song "Generations" by Janice Kapp Perry's daughter was playing. I gave up and stayed home until my red, blottchie face could return to some normalcy. I appreciate Mom so much for all she sacrificed and did for me--for her example and for her never-ending love.
This is how a Dancing Queen looks at the end of a day at Lagoon,competing her 3 competition teams and several other groups. I was able to spend Saturday with Billie Jo and Body Motion at Lagoon for a competition. It was a nice day weather wise, and nice with all her students, as well. The kids can go ride the rides while they're not competing, so it turns out to be a pretty nice family day for everyone involved. Billie Jo works her heart out and without the help of her loving husband and cooperative little girls, she wouldn't be able to do all she does. Tim made a trip to Idaho to borrow Matt and Sondi's trailer, so they could have a "home-away-from-home" place to land while at Lagoon. He takes whatever girls are not involved with the competition at a certain point and Billie Jo never has to worry about where they are or if they're safe and well-cared for. Tim is her life-line to "feet on the ground: and it is especially nice for a mother to see her children with that kind of relationship.


This is an 80's routine with the competition teams. It is so fun and all ages get to participate. This dance is so fun to watch because the girls are totally "in" to it. It never ceases to amaze me at what excellent choreography skills Billie Jo possesses. What a talented woman!

This is one of the Comp. Teams and they do an interpretive modern/lyrical to Miss Invisible. This dance is so highly descriptive of an adolescent's life that the whole audience gets into the spirit of the dance and it's just quiet. These young girls do a fabulous job of creating perfect ambiance to perform this dance. It's very inspiring and they have won all sorts of "judges high points" awards.
This is the same group as above, except this is their hip-hop routine. Talk about ATTITUDE! Cute, cute, cute! For some reason, I don't have pictures of the Senior Comp Team in either of their routines. I really apologize for that and can't even think of a reason why I don't have their pictures! They are FABULOUS, however, and deserving of every bit as much praise as anyone!
Oh my goodness! These are only 3 of the 7 who competed "It's a Hard Knock Life." These little girls were so cute and the longer they danced on-stage, the more the audience cheered and by the time the dance was over, the cheering was deafening! They took a whopping first-place and did such a great job for the first time competing! Tess was EXCELLENT at scrubbing!


This is Ellie's little group who danced to "Be Our Guest." Billie Jo outdid herself with this number, as they had little serving trays with hot pink napkins, silverware and champagne glasses attached. Ellie and Amber are such little performers--the group as a whole did a wonderful job with this routine! Definitely an audience pleaser!
This is the youngest Comp. Team and they did a lyrical, as well. They did such a great job and were so serious about their performance! Billie Jo is the best, most beautiful, most creative, most talented, best dancer in the entire world! I love you, Billie Jo!

This describes spring in Woodland. Each time you even dared think that it might be warming up, we got hit with yet another snow storm that was so wet we were flooded. If you look closely, you can see the rake out that Rob has been working with prior to the storm. Water standing in the yard and flower beds is a typical spring in beautiful Woodland!




The flowers are just like each one of us -- they keep trying to believe that spring is actually coming -- which means they get to bloom in the snow, but they are full of believing hearts that spring will actually come!





The trackhoe has been hard at work digging, digging, digging at the Gunnerson property! First, there was a trench dug around the perimeter to drain the place off, then the road was dug and rocks and gravel put down, and finally -- the foundation was dug! I need another picture, but the footings and foundation are in already! I think the building is about to begin!!




Our little Eli has finally gotten down off his Mom's hip and is crawling! He still actually loves being on his Mom's hip and he does this funny thing where he looks like he's spurring her--he truly gives a few kicks in her when he wants her to go somewhere!





Ahh--the River! I love the River! I love the sound of the River, I love the looks of the River, and I love that the River is FULL of water and roaring down the canyon! I love the power of the River -- and yes -- I LOVE THE RIVER!




Mmmm...can you tell who won the game? Earl was actually sweating by the time they got finished! Pretty competetive, if you can even imagine that! Patrice said it was good to see Allen smile again and I was glad he won so he had something to smile about!




Darlene Clegg took Billie Jo and me and her daughter, Chelsea to "Wicked!" It was every bit as good as it was when we saw it in London last spring. The story is the best ever and the singing and acting are amazing! If any of you have not seen Wicked, you really need to. It is definitely explains the "witch" story from The Wizard of Oz!




Well, after a solid week of illness and constant care, ole' Bob passed away. Talk about a stressful week for me, trying to nurse him back to health and then walk out on the back porch and finding him dead--I think I actually broke down and cried on my way home! DeLoy brought the backhoe and we had a funeral for him. Dad was very brave about it.



The officers from the South Kamas Irrigation Company called me and asked me to bring Dad to the annual stockholders meeting. They gave him special recognition for his years of work and counsel. They also presented him with a really beautiful embroidered wool vest and one-of-a-kind South Kamas Irrigation cap. He was thrilled and appreciated the recognition!


May 2nd, Earl and I drove up the canyon above Woodland. I've been watching the River to see the rise each day and then we wondered how much snow there was. Well, we were definitely surprised to see the remaining 7-8 feet of snow just 10 miles up the road. The River will definitely rise as all that snow melts, but I just have to tell ya--it is a beautiful sight! So much to see -- so much to do -- such a beautiful world!